Research on Acupuncture and Pregnancy
What the studies say - in plain language
Acupuncture has been studied in many areas of pregnancy care – including labour pain, labour preparation, breech presentation, morning sickness, and back/pelvic pain.
Overall, the research suggests that acupuncture is a safe option when provided by a trained practitioner, and can be a helpful complement to your regular medical or midwifery care.
Acupuncture for Labour Pain and Birth Experience
Several clinical trials from Europe have looked at acupuncture during labour.
What they found
Across these studies, women who received acupuncture during labour:
- Needed fewer strong pain medications like meperidine or epidurals
- Reported less pain and more relaxation
- Were very satisfied and said they would choose acupuncture again
- In some studies, had shorter labours and needed less oxytocin to “speed things up”
Key references
- Nesheim et al. – Women who had acupuncture in labour used much less meperidine and other painkillers; 89 out of 103 said they would want acupuncture again.
Nesheim BI et al. Acupuncture during labor can reduce the use of meperidine: a controlled clinical study. - Skilnand et al. – Women receiving real acupuncture (vs. sham) reported lower pain scores, less need for medication, and shorter labours, mostly due to less epidural use.
Skilnand E et al. Acupuncture in the management of pain in labor. - Ramnero et al. – Acupuncture reduced the need for epidural analgesia and improved relaxation, with no negative effect on delivery outcomes.
Ramnero A et al. Acupuncture treatment during labour – a randomised controlled trial. - Zeisler et al. – Women who did acupuncture as birth preparation had a significantly shorter first stage of labour and needed less oxytocin.
Zeisler H et al. Influence of acupuncture on duration of labor.
What this means for you:
If you want to reduce medication use, increase comfort, or simply have more options for pain support, acupuncture is a reasonable, evidence-supported tool to consider during labour.
Acupuncture for Cervical Ripening and Labour Preparation
Some studies have looked specifically at using acupuncture in the last weeks of pregnancy to help the cervix soften (“ripen”) and prepare for labour.
What they found
- Acupuncture started around 38–40 weeks helped:
- Soften and “mature” the cervix (higher Bishop scores)
- Shorten the time from due date to delivery
- Reduce the need for medical induction in some cases
Key references
- Tréméau et al. – Women who received acupuncture in early 9th month had a bigger improvement in Bishop score (cervical ripening) than control or placebo groups.
Tremeau ML et al. Acupuncture for Cervical Maturation. - Rabl et al. – Acupuncture at LI4 and SP6 after the due date supported cervical ripening and shortened the time from EDC (due date) to delivery.
Rabl M et al. Acupuncture for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term – a randomized controlled trial.
What this means for you:
Starting weekly acupuncture around 36–37 weeks is commonly used to support natural cervical ripening and help your body move toward labour in a gentle, supported way.
Acupuncture & Moxibustion for Breech Presentation
Several good-quality trials have tested moxibustion and acupuncture at BL67 (a point on the little toe) for babies in breech position.
What they found
- More babies turned head-down (cephalic) in the acupuncture/moxibustion groups compared to usual care
- In some studies, this approach reduced the rate of C-section for breech
- Fetal movement and heart rate patterns were reassuring and showed no signs of distress
Key references
- Cardini & Weixin (JAMA) – In primigravidas at 33 weeks with breech babies, moxibustion at BL67 increased fetal movements and significantly increased head-down presentation at 35 weeks and at birth compared with routine care.
Cardini F, Weixin H. Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1998. - Habek et al. – 76.4% of breech babies turned after acupuncture at BL67 vs. 45.4% spontaneous turn in the control group.
Habek D et al. Acupuncture conversion of fetal breech presentation. - Neri et al. – Acupuncture plus moxibustion at BL67 in Italian women led to more head-down babies at birth and fewer C-sections for breech than observation alone.
Neri I et al. Acupuncture plus moxibustion to resolve breech presentation: a randomized controlled study. - Neri et al. (NST study) – Monitoring during treatment showed no fetal distress, and real acupuncture increased fetal movements and changed heart rate in a healthy way compared to minimal (placebo) acupuncture.
Neri I et al. Non-stress test changes during acupuncture plus moxibustion on BL67 point in breech presentation.
What this means for you:
If your baby is breech around 33–35 weeks, acupuncture and moxibustion may offer a safe, non-invasive option to encourage baby to turn before considering more invasive procedures.
Acupuncture for Morning Sickness & Hyperemesis
Research has looked at acupuncture and acupressure at PC6 (Neiguan) for severe pregnancy nausea (hyperemesis gravidarum).
What they found
- Faster reduction in nausea scores
- Fewer vomiting episodes
- Less need for anti-nausea medication in some groups
- Acupuncture and acupressure were clearly more effective than placebo
Key references
- Carlsson et al. – Women with hyperemesis receiving active PC6 acupuncture had faster decrease in nausea and more often stopped vomiting compared with placebo acupuncture.
Carlsson CP et al. Manual acupuncture reduces hyperemesis gravidarum – a placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blind, crossover study. - Habek et al. – Treatment of hyperemesis with PC6 acupuncture was 90% effective, PC6 acupressure 63.6% effective, compared to much lower improvement in placebo groups.
Habek D et al. Success of Acupuncture and Acupressure of the Pc 6 Acupoint in the Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Forsch Komplementarmed 2004.
What this means for you:
For persistent nausea and vomiting, acupuncture and acupressure at PC6 are well-studied, non-drug options that can be used alongside standard medical care.
Acupuncture for Back & Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy
Low back and pelvic girdle pain are extremely common in pregnancy and often not well-managed by medications alone.
What they found
- Significant reductions in pain scores
- Better ability to walk, work, and perform daily activities
- Less need for pain medications
- Acupuncture outperformed standard care alone in these studies
Key references
- Guerreiro da Silva et al. – Pregnant women receiving acupuncture for low back and pelvic pain had much greater pain reduction, improved function, and used fewer pain medications than those receiving conventional treatment alone.
Guerreiro da Silva JB et al. Acupuncture for low back pain in pregnancy – a prospective, quasi-randomised, controlled study. - BMJ 2005 study – Among women with pelvic girdle pain, acupuncture plus standard care and stabilizing exercises plus standard care both reduced pain better than standard care alone; acupuncture showed the greatest reduction.
British Medical Journal, online March 17, 2005 – Pelvic Pain Relief for Pregnant Women.
What this means for you:
If you are struggling with back, hip, or pelvic pain in pregnancy, acupuncture is a well-researched option that can reduce pain and help you stay mobile without relying solely on medications.
Blood Flow to the Baby & Safety
One concern many parents have is whether acupuncture affects blood flow to the baby.
What they found
- Acupuncture at SP6 and LI4 improved blood flow patterns in the umbilical artery
- No negative changes were seen in uterine artery or fetal aorta blood flow
- No signs of fetal distress were reported in these Doppler ultrasound studies
Key reference
- Zeisler et al. – Acupuncture at SP6 and LI4 improved umbilical artery waveforms without harming fetal or uterine blood flow.
Zeisler H et al. Influence of acupuncture on Doppler ultrasound in pregnant women.
What this means for you:
In the research setting, acupuncture was not associated with reduced blood flow or fetal distress when used appropriately.
Preterm Labour – Early Experimental Research
One study in pregnant rats looked at acupuncture’s ability to reduce uterine contractions induced by oxytocin.
What they found
- Acupuncture at LI4 significantly reduced oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in rats
- This is experimental animal data, not yet fully translated into routine human care
Key reference
- Pak et al. – Acupuncture at LI4 suppressed oxytocin-induced uterine contractions in pregnant rats.
Pak SC et al. The effect of acupuncture on uterine contraction induced by oxytocin.
What this means for you:
This is interesting early research, but treatment of preterm labour is still very much in the medical domain; acupuncture may eventually play a supportive role, but more human research is needed.
So… Is Acupuncture in Pregnancy Safe?
Across these studies and many years of clinical experience:
- Serious adverse events are rare when acupuncture is performed by a properly trained practitioner
- Acupuncture is generally considered safe in pregnancy, with appropriate point selection and technique
It is usually used as a complement, not a replacement, for midwifery or obstetric care
How We Use This Research at Yinstill
Based on this body of evidence and decades of clinical experience, acupuncture is commonly used in pregnancy for:
- Morning sickness and hyperemesis
- Back, hip, pelvic, and sciatic pain
- Headaches and sleep issues
- Stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Breech presentation (with moxibustion at BL67)
- Labour preparation and cervical ripening (from ~36–37 weeks)
- Labour support for pain, relaxation, and progress
- Postpartum healing, mood, and lactation support
You are always encouraged to discuss acupuncture with your midwife or doctor so your whole care team is aligned.
